Monday, November 29, 2010

I took the train home today as I do every day. I hopped on, took a seat, placed my brown leather hand bag on my lap, unzipped it and took out my knit work and resumed knitting.

A girl about my age sat beside me. First thing I noticed about her was that she was wearing a beanie made from the exact same yarn as mine (plus my matching scarf I had hung up very visibly beside me, purple Novita Crystal). I wondered if she'd notice we had something in common. In my head I imagined her taking a long examining look at my scarf, leaning over to me and whispering something like "you addicted too, huh?" with a been-there-done-that kinda look in her eye. I imagined two strangers on the train recognizing the knit fanatic in each other, a kindered spirit, a secret alliance, sharing a secret Commuter Knitter hand shake.

But quiet she remained. No secret hand shakes. Not even a nod. Nothing. So I thought she might not have knitted the beanie herself. Fine, thought I. But then what did she do! She placed her brown leather hand bag on her lap, unzipped it, took out her knit work and resumed knitting. Astonishment itself! She WAS a knitter after all.

So there we sat. With our matching purple beanies (though mine was stuck inside the sleeve of my coat but that's beside the point), knitting in silence side by side, her metallic double pointed needles clinking gently, the yarn swooshing quietly from one of my bamboo needles to the next. A poetic moment, one might say. For an instant we were secret agents, colleagues and comrades, members of the Secret Sociaty, pretending not to notice each other. Our mutual silence became our secret hand shake. No words required. Been there. Done that.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Seems like winter is here, gorgeous white blanket of snow has fell on our lil country and once again surprised us northern folk with it's many qualities. Did you know snow is cold and slippery? One might think that'd be fairly obvious. Looking at the people stuck in traffic too affraid to actually drive properly (but too proud and stubborn to take the bus), all the head lines about accidents on the road and so forth, you'd think this is the first time we've ever had snow. Why is it like this every frigging year?

Luckily none of the above concearns me 'cause a) I'm happy to support and enjoy the experience of public transport and b) I haven't been commuting much over the last few days. It may be minus what-ever outside but it surely isn't cold under my skin. As the devine Peggy Lee puts it; "Fever in the morning, fever all through the night".

Stuck at home once again there's very little to do but sleep, watch Little Women and knit. I've been trying to come up with a pattern for cabled socks. I've found it surprisingly tricky, but this is what I finally came up with. Another pair for Santa's bag.

Instructions:

Yarn: Novita 7 veljestä (150 g = 300 m, 75% wool / 25% polyamide)

Gauge: 18 st = 10cm

Needle: 4 mm

Skeins: 1

Cast on 54 st. Divide them on 4 double pointed needles. *K1, P1* for about 6 rows. Begin working as per chart repeating the 18 stitches and 12 rows on it. Repeat the pattern for 4 times. Make sure you devide the stitches before you start working on the heel. Dpn I: 12, Dpn II: 14, Dpn III: 14, Dpn IV: 14.

(Click to enlarge)

Reinforced heel:

Leave needles II and III waiting to be worked on later. After knitting last row of cable pattern knit needle I as you would if you were still making the cable, but knit it on needle IV =26 st on needle IV. Then turn to the the wrong side of the sock, slip 1, purl 25 and start the reinforced stitches.Repeat *SL1K, K1* on the right side, SL1P, P25 on the wrong side. Repeat these two rows 13 times = 26 rows. Then on the right side (still knitting SL1K, K1 on right side and purl wrong side) knit until you have 9st left on the needle, SKP and turn to wrong side. SL1P, P 8, P2TOG and turn again. Knit in this manner until you have 8st left, SKP and turn to wrong side. Continue the decreases in this manner until you have 10 st left. Divide the remaining stitches on two needles. Pick up 13 st on each side of the heel flap and knit the picked up stitches on needles I and IV.

The gusset:

You now have 64 stitches in total. Continue working the cable pattern in the front with the 30 stitches on needles II and III. K2TOG at the end of needle I and SKP at the beginning of needle IV every second row until you have 14st on each needle.

Shape toe:

Continue until you have reached desired length for the sock and beging to shape toe. K2TOG at the end of needles I and III and SKP at the beginning of needles II and IV. Repeat the decreases every second row until you have 8 st remaining on each needle. After that repeat the decreases on every row. When you are left with 8 st . Cut the yarn and run the thread tail through remaining 8 stitches twice; pull firmly and darn in the end.

Cross 1 R =Cross 1 to the right (pick 1st on cable needle, leave it waiting on the back side, knit 1st and then knit the 1st from the cable needle)
Cross 4 R = Cross 4 to the right (pick 4st on cable needle, leave them waiting on the back side, knit 4st and then knit the 4st from the cable needle)

Cross 4 L = Cross 4 to the left (pick 4st on cable needle, leave them waiting on the front side, knit 4st and then knit the 4st from the cable needle)EDIT 14.6.2011:Corrected few typos and misleading instructions on the heel.

Monday, November 15, 2010

I have a nasty uninvited visitor who refuses to leave me alone. I had to stay home few days end of last week to take care of him (pain in the arse if you ask me). Yesterday I rejoiced as I thought I saw him packing. "Good riddance", thought I. But apparently he ain't goin no where. His name is Infectio Acuta Respiratoria Superior, although friends and close acquaintances call him Flu for short, and he's here to stay. For a few days more at least. He's a complete bitch and I hate his guts.

So, I'm stuck home with him and all I do is sleep and drink buckets of Glögi (=hot grape juice seasoned with cloves, ginger and cinnamon). But no matter how under the weather I am, I can't resist doing a bit of light knitting while I'm up. Once again, I started another project using Novita Katri. I can't stress enough how utterly wonderful this yarn is, soft, cuddly and affordable. Perfection!

This scarf is for another dear old friend of mine. She asked for a lacy red scarf and I'm guessing she'll be more than satisfied with this delightful creation. She is a unique piece of work, as is this scarf, so I thought it proper to name the pattern after her.

Instructions:

Yarn: Novita Katri (100g = 160m, 100% acrylic)

Gauge: 14 st = 10cm

Skeins: 2

Needle: 6mm

Cast on 35. Knit according to the chart below (click to enlarge). Cast off loosely when you have reached the desired lenght for your scarf. Weave in ends.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Yes, it's now official. I've gone bonkers. The proof: check out the hat I made last night. First of all, I spent the entire saturday evening home alone knitting this thing. And second, I find it the cutest, most adorable hat ever. I think it's the best thing since sliced bread. I must be off my rocker. What ever happened to my dignity and sophisticated style? Bah, humbug! I will from now on embrace my newly found love for all things OTT such as wooly hats decorated with massive pink roses.. Gosh. What's next? A reindeer jumper for christmas? Hmm... now there's an idea.

Instructions:

Yarn: Novita Katri (100g = 160m, 100% acrylic)

Gauge: 14 st = 10cm

Skeins: 1 for the hat, left over yarn for the roses

Needle: 6mm

Hook: 5mm

Cap:

Cast on 88 (makes a fairly loose cap) on double pointed needles or circular needle. EDIT: After few wears the cap became very loose indeed, so I'd suggest starting with 80 st instead of 88.

K2P2 for about 5 rows. Then knit stockinette.

After you've knitted about 30 rows stockinette devide the stitches in 4 parts placing a marker at the end of each quarter. K2TOG at each marker on all the following rows. After you've done this 4 times and you are left with 72 stitches, add additional markers half way between the excisting markers. On the rest of the rows you will then be decreasing the stitches at every marker, alltogether 8st/row. Knit until you are left with 8stitches, cut yarn, leaving a 15cm tail. Draw tail through the last stitches, draw tightly closed, and fasten on inside of cap. Weave in ends.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

I know very little of 4 year old girls. Having no small kids in the family and planning never to reproduce myself I know very little of the creatures normally referred to as children. Taking this to account I was slightly nervous trying to come up with a christmas present for one. Luckily I was able to use a lifeline and phone a friend. An old work mate came to town and having 2 charming daughters herself she was the perfect guide, walking and talking me through the wonderous world of children's wear. Together we walked through various shops, me picking up stuff I thought was absolutely adorable and my guide kindly pointing out to me what was particularily wrong about each garment.

I'm ever so grateful to her for this little life lesson (if you are reading; thanks!!) Without her I would've probably just knitted something appalingly unpractical but heart-breakingly cute, something the little creature would've loved to wear but her practical mum would've just hid in the closet.

Long story short, this is a pattern I came up with. Once again, feel free to correct my vocabulary or the instructions in general, still fairly new to knitting terminology in English.

Knit a few rows of garter stitch and 2 rows stockinette before beginning the decreases at the armpits.

Devide the remaining 152st on 3 parts= 80st for the back, 36st for left front and 36st for right front.

Continue working on the other front part decreasing 1x5 and 1x2 st at the armpit on every second row. Leave the remaining 29 stitches on hold. Do the same for the other front part. Decrease 1x5 and 1x2 st on every second row on both ends of the back part and leave the rest 66st on hold.

Sleeves:

Cast on 49. Knit garter for 4rows. Begin stockinette. Add 1st on the 10th row of the stockinette at both ends. Add 1 st every 8th row at both ends for 7 times =64 st. When the sleaves measure to 25cm cast off 1x5st and 1x2st at both ends on every second row =50st.

Yoke:

Gather all the 224st on circular needles and begin the yoke. Decrease 6 st evenly around the yoke on the 5th row =218st. Knit 11 rows. Decrease by 18st evenly around the yoke =200st. Knit the heart pattern according to the chart. After the pattern decrease by 35st =165st. Knit 6 rows and decrease on the following row by 45st = 120st. Knit until the yoke measures up to 18 cm and decrease by 40st = 80st. K1P1 for 8 rows, cast of loosely.

Finishing:

Pick up stitches from the left front to make the button band. Pick up 1 st from each row leaving out every 3rd row. K1P1 for 8 rows, cast of loosely. Do the same for the right side but make desired number of buttonholes (YO, K2TOG) on row 5. I used 4 buttons here. Sow on the buttons, finish loose ends. DONE!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

A dear old friend of mine asked me to knit her a pair of grey mittens and I surely did, with pleasure. Inspired by the really pretty socks I made last week, I thought I'd try out coming up with a cable pattern of my own. Maybe not the most original ever, but I'm very very pleased with them. Go me!

It's been fun knitting on the train, really helps passing time.

Instructions:

Yarn: Novita 7 veljestä (150 g = 300 m, 75% wool / 25% polyamide)

Gauge: 18 st = 10cm

Needle: 3½ mm

Skeins: 1

Right Mitten:

Cast on 44 on double pointed needles, dividing 11 on each needle.

K1 P1 for about 13 rows.

Knit stockinette on needles III and IV and on needles I and II work according to the chart below. Repeat rows 1.-8.

Once you've reached the base of your thumb, knit 2 at the beginning of needle III, leave 7 stiches on a piece of waste yarn for thumb to be worked later. Cast on 7, creating a hole for the thumb. Knit the rest of the stitches on needle III.

Continue knitting the mitten until you reach the tip of your index finger. SKP1 at the beginning of needles I and III and K2TOG at the end of needles II and IV. Continue decreases on every row in this manner until 8 stitches remain. Cut the yarn and run the thread tail through remaining 8 stitches twice; pull firmly and darn in the end.

Left Mitten:

Work as mirror image to right mitten.

Thumbs:
Knit the 7 stitches from the waste yarn onto dpn and pick up 10 additional stitches along the inner portion of the thumb (17s all together) on 3 double pointed needles. Knit thumb until desired length (=until the thumb covers half your thumb nail). K2TOG on each needle every row until 8st remain and cut yarn leaving approximately a 15cm tail. Using a needle thread the tail through remaining the 8 stitches twice, pull firmly and darn in the end.